Uganda holds its Alliance 8.7 National Strategic Planning Workshop
In December 2018, the Government of Uganda formally expressed its commitment to join Alliance 8.7 as a Pathfinder Country, by way of a letter from the Honourable Janat B. Mukwaya (Hajjat), Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, to the Director General of the
International Labour Organization (ILO).
This voluntary act signalled Uganda’s willingness to take the lead and devote extra effort towards achieving Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
To take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.
Subsequently, the Minister appointed Mr. Martin Wandera, Director of Labour, Employment, and Occupation Safety and Health, as the Focal Point and Chair of Alliance 8.7 in Uganda (“Mr.
Alliance”).
Taking up this mandate, Mr. Wandera convened a Technical Committee comprised of representatives from a wide range of government ministries, UN agencies, international organizations and CSOs, to organize the National Strategic Planning Workshop and launch of
Alliance 8.7 in Uganda.
The Committee was tasked with ensuring the logistical organization of the workshop and coordinating the necessary communication between stakeholders and participants.
The objective of this workshop is to bring together stakeholders working towards achieving SDG 8.7 in Uganda to strengthen collaboration, assess the country’s progress, and develop a work plan for action.
More specifically, the workshop aims to achieve the following goals:
1) Develop a common understanding among stakeholders about Alliance 8.7 and what
it means to be a "Pathfinder Country"
2) Review and assess the progress made by Uganda to combat child labour and forced
labour, including existing national action plans and policies
3) Develop action plans for interventions that Alliance 8.7 stakeholders in Uganda can
implement in the short term
4) Secure renewed commitments from stakeholders to continue to collaborate and
coordinate to effectively operationalize the Alliance.
The Alliance 8.7 National Strategic Workshop was held at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, on April 17, 2019. The event began with a series of opening remarks delivered by the key leaders, culminating in the official opening speech of the Honourable Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
This was followed by a morning session – moderated by Mr. Wandera – comprising presentations on Alliance 8.7 and the existing action plans, legal and policy frameworks, responses and challenges relating to forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour in Uganda.
In the afternoon session – moderated by Mr. Buyego Ismail Kalanda, Principal Labour Officer, International Affairs – participants were divided into working groups to identify priority actions and strategize on the coordination and mobilization of resources.
The concluding plenary session provided an opportunity to discuss the results of the group discussions before the delivery of closing remarks.
International Labour Organization (ILO).
This voluntary act signalled Uganda’s willingness to take the lead and devote extra effort towards achieving Target 8.7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
To take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms.
Subsequently, the Minister appointed Mr. Martin Wandera, Director of Labour, Employment, and Occupation Safety and Health, as the Focal Point and Chair of Alliance 8.7 in Uganda (“Mr.
Alliance”).
Taking up this mandate, Mr. Wandera convened a Technical Committee comprised of representatives from a wide range of government ministries, UN agencies, international organizations and CSOs, to organize the National Strategic Planning Workshop and launch of
Alliance 8.7 in Uganda.
The Committee was tasked with ensuring the logistical organization of the workshop and coordinating the necessary communication between stakeholders and participants.
The objective of this workshop is to bring together stakeholders working towards achieving SDG 8.7 in Uganda to strengthen collaboration, assess the country’s progress, and develop a work plan for action.
More specifically, the workshop aims to achieve the following goals:
1) Develop a common understanding among stakeholders about Alliance 8.7 and what
it means to be a "Pathfinder Country"
2) Review and assess the progress made by Uganda to combat child labour and forced
labour, including existing national action plans and policies
3) Develop action plans for interventions that Alliance 8.7 stakeholders in Uganda can
implement in the short term
4) Secure renewed commitments from stakeholders to continue to collaborate and
coordinate to effectively operationalize the Alliance.
The Alliance 8.7 National Strategic Workshop was held at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, on April 17, 2019. The event began with a series of opening remarks delivered by the key leaders, culminating in the official opening speech of the Honourable Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
This was followed by a morning session – moderated by Mr. Wandera – comprising presentations on Alliance 8.7 and the existing action plans, legal and policy frameworks, responses and challenges relating to forced labour, modern slavery, human trafficking and child labour in Uganda.
In the afternoon session – moderated by Mr. Buyego Ismail Kalanda, Principal Labour Officer, International Affairs – participants were divided into working groups to identify priority actions and strategize on the coordination and mobilization of resources.
The concluding plenary session provided an opportunity to discuss the results of the group discussions before the delivery of closing remarks.